Hinge for folding table



P 1956 F. BEDNARSKI 2,763,889

HINGE FOR FOLDING TABLE Filed April 29, 1954 INVENTOR. fl/vo/lvA/vo Baa/ A IRS/(l BY 4 TTOR/VE) HINGE FUR FOLDWG TABLE Ferdinand Bednarski, Austin, Tex.

Application April 29, 1954, Serial No. 426,426

2 Claims. (Cl. 16-130) This invention relates to hinges for folding tables.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hinge for folding tables wherein one of the hinge elements is secured to one leaf and the other hinge element is slidably received within tracks fixedly mounted on the other leaf.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hinge for folding tables of the above type wherein adjustable means are provided for limiting the movement of the sliding element within the tracks in both directions.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a hinge for folding tables bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and efficient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinge for folding tables embodying the features of the present invention mounted upon a pair of table leaves which are shown in a closed position relative to each other;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the leaves in an open position relative to each other and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tracks secured to one of the leaves which receive the sliding hinge element therewithin.

Referring now to the figures, represents a table leaf hingeable connected to a second leaf 11 in a manner which will hereinafter become clear.

As shown in Fig. 3, a track indicated generally at 12 is secured along its side portions 13 to the leaf it by means of the screws 14, the side portions 13 terminating in the laterally bent stops 15. The inner edges of the side portions 13 are connected by the recessed plate 16 which forms the track between the inner edges of the side portion 13, the central portion of the plate 16 being provided with a groove 17 of substantially V-shaped cross section. Transverse struts 18 connect the side portions 13 above the plate 16 and receive a sliding hinge element thereunder between the edges of the side portions 13, the transverse struts 18 at their central portions having substantially V-shaped grooves 19 vertically spaced from the grooves 17. A hinge element 20 is secured to the leaf 11 by the screws 21. A complementary hinge element 22 is elongated and is connected thereto by the pintle 23, the elongated hinge element 22 being slidably received between the side portions 13 below the struts 18. It will be noted that the elongated hinge element 22 is provided along its longitudinal center with a groove 24 of substantially V-shaped cross section which is slidably received between the grooves 17 and the grooves 19.

Patented Sept. 25, 1956 The end of the elongated hinge element 22 remote from the element 20 is provided along its end with longitudinally spaced openings 25. The transverse stop 26 is secured to the hinge element 22 by means of openings provided at each end and the rivets 27 received within the openings 25. It will be apparent that the particular openings 25 when employed will vary with the thickness of the leaf 11 (Fig. 1). The adjustment is such that when the leaf 11 is aligned with the leaf 10 (Fig. 2) the .stop 26 will abut the adjacent strut 18. For leaves 11 of greater thickness, other pairs of the openings 25 closer to the end of the element 22 will be utilized. As shown in Fig. l, the stops 15 will limit the displacement of the hinge element 22 in the opposite direction when the leaves are closed. The central portion of the step 26 is provided with a groove 28 of V-shaped cross section to accommodate the groove 24. The hinges will not bend and can be made with or without the grooves, although preferably with the grooves. While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding table having a pair of leaves, in combination, a first hinge element secured to one of the leaves and terminating at the folding edge thereof, a second hinge element pivotally connected to the first hinge element at said folding edge, a track comprising a pair of laterally spaced alined side portions having a recessed plate interconnecting them at their inner edges, transverse struts fixed upon and interconnecting said side portions above the recessed plate spaced in general parallelism thereto, said track receiving the second hinge element between said side portions upon the recessed plate and beneath the struts, stop means preventing said second hinge element from being accidentally pulled out from said track and disconnected therefrom, and at least one of said side portions adjacent to the first hinge element including an end having a laterally bent portion forming a stop for the leaf carrying the first hinge element when said leaf hangs down pendently from the other leaf, the stop means including the feature of having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings or apertures in the end portion of the second hinge element remote from the first hinge element and a stop element for insertion in any selected aperture in said second hinge element to determine the extent to which said latter hinge element may be extended from the track by abutting the respectively adjacent strut upon said track.

2. In a folding table according to claim 1 the feature which includes having mutually co-operating V-shaped grooved portions upon the second hinge element, the recessed plate of the track, the stop element and the transverse struts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 131,478 Tice Sept. 17, 1872 147,869 Seng Feb. 24, l874 523,304 Collins July 17, 1894 923,037 Ellerbe May 25, 1909 2,167,489 Renga July 25, 1939 2,213,695 Ellington Sept. 3, 1940 2,583,950 Kirschner Ian. 29, 1952 2,714,743 Lochner Aug. 9, 1955 

